Fastener applying machine



March 17, 1936. E'. lanaRlusTlriL ET Al. 2,034,018

FASTENER APPLYING MACHINE I Filed March 18, 1933 6 Shets-Shet 1 March 17, 1936. I E, BERNS-HEL Er AL 2,034,018

FASTENER APPLYING MACHINE March 17, 1936. E, BERNS'HEL ET AL 2,034,018

FASTENER APPLYING MACHINE Filed Maron 18, 1935 e sheets-sheet 5 Q Zi-'Twin .Berzzszz'ej qu J W7] Schal/er March 17, 1936. E, BERNSTIEL Er AL 2,034,018

FASTENER APPLYING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 17, 1936. E BERNS-nELE-r AL 2,034,018

FASTENER APPLYING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1933 v6 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 17, 1936. E. BERNsTlEL ET AL 2,034,018v l FASTENER APPLYING MACHINE Filed Maron 18, 195s 6 sheets-sheet 6" 73 ifi? J5 JErWjzz .Eel-'175295Z 'W2/Jy Schal/ez" I Patented Mar. 157, 1936 UNITED STATES linria-rrr OFFICE Application March 18, 1933, Serial No. 661,610

In Germany April 11, 1932 ""28 claims.

This invention is directed to an improvement in machines for assembling previously formed metal fastener elements in proper relation on strips and in position to be clamped in place on the strip, together with means for subsequently and simultaneously clamping the placed fasteners to insure their fixed relation to the strip on which they have been positioned.

The fasteners with which the present invention is `more particularly concerned are of the type involving strips to be secured to the meeting edges of an opening in a garment or other article, with each strip bearing fastening elements adapted, when moved together in a particular manner, to interlock to provide a closure.

The fasteners are designed to be unlocked or separated at will to open the closure.

Each fastener element-is of necessity of peculiar formation and relatively small, and 'incident to this size requirement and to the further fact that they must be assembled on a strip in regularly spaced order and securely clamped against separation, great difficulty has been experienced in producing practical commercial results in this type of connection.

It has been heretofore proposed to provide a machine in which the fastening elements themselves are first formed from blank material, such fastener elements so formed applied to a strip-v and the fastener elements clamped in position on the strip after application, the successive steps of forming, setting and clamping being carried out as continuous operations of a single machine. In such continuous machines, experience has demonstrated a continuous liability to an improper spacing or placing of the formed fasteners, with the consequent complete or partial ineffectiveness of the closure, for unless the fastening elements are properly spaced on each strip, they fail to cooperatively interlock with the fasteners of the cooperating strip.

The present invention, therefore, contemplates the application and proper spacing of previously formed fastening elements on the strip in one operation and the clamping of the fasteners relative to the strip in their proper placement in a second operation, with the two operations wholly independent with a. view to insuring the proper spacing of the fasteners on the strip in the applying operation to the number and in the order desired to thereby insure extreme accuracyinsuch placement of the fasteners on the strip and permit the clamping operation which is subsequently carried out on the entire group of fasteners on a strip at one operation to fix the previously placed fasteners in the identical relation to which they have been placed on the strip.

`An essential characteristic of the present invention is a means serving as a retaining element for the strip and as an absolute and uniform A5 guide for the placement of the fasteners on the strip so that any fastener which may be placed in position on the strip is positioned with absolute relative accuracy, with such means serving as a carrier for the strip and placed fasteners 10 after placement of the latter to permit the thus partially completed article to be transferred to a clamping machine and the placed fasteners clamped on the strip without disturbing their predetermined relation as defined in their. initial 15 application to the strip by said rneans. Thus, the fasteners may be accurately guided into proper spaced relation and position on the strip and held in such placed relation until clamped. This insures absolute accuracy in spacing the fas- 20 tener elements on the strip, proper projection of theA elements beyond the strip, and further permits, prior to the clamping operation, the placement by hand of any particular fastener which may have for any reason failed to be. placed 25 by the machine.

The present machine consists essentially in a comb-like carrier in which the strip has been properly placed, with such carrier formed with\ spaced fastener-receiving channels so related to 30 the fastener-engaging edge of the4 strip that a, fastener properly placed in each channel Will be positioned over the strip edge, the machine including a feeding of the fasteners individually and successively to the respective channelsof the 35 comb-like carrier in succession, provision being made for a proper step by step movement of the comb-like carrier and a feedingof the fasteners to the channels of the comb-like carrierV in the periods of rest of such carrier. carrier with the contained strip and applied fasteners, the latter in any predetermined number Within the limits of the carrier, is subsequently transferred as a unit with the strip and fasteners in their original relation to a clamping mecha- 45 nism by which all of the fasteners contained in the comb-like carrier are clamped onto the strip therein to thus complete the unit.

The spacing of the fasteners on the strip in the comb-like carrier completes the article eX- 50 cept for the clamping operation, and while the fasteners are in proper relation to each other and to the strip, they are not secured thereto. Thus the operator may readily po'sition by hand any improperly placed fastener or supply to any un- 55 The comb-like 40 lled channel in the comb-like carrier a fastener as needed. Thus, any possible imperfections of operation of the mechanism, such as occasionally failing to feed a fastener or to improperly place a fastener .may be readily and conveniently corrected by the operator before transferring the comb-like carrier with its strip and fasteners to the clamping machine. Thus, obviously the unit may be inspected and completed with absolute certainty and correctness before the fasteners are clamped in positio'n, an operation obviously impossible where the fasteners are successively clamped in place as a step in a continuously operating machine, for in the latter case if a particular fastener is misplaced or wanting, the clamping operation on the preceding and succeeding fasteners precludes proper manual correction and the unit as a whole is valueless.

Furthermore, by simultaneously clamping all of the applied fasteners on the strip, i. e. clamping such fasteners in place in a single operation, one movement only is necessary for all the fasteners of the strip, whereas in a continuous machine the clamping operation is a single movement for each fastener, and as the remaining portion of the machine must be at rest during this clamping operation, the time required for completing a unit favors the mechanism of the present invention.

The invention further provides means for accurately receiving the fastening elements from a reservoir or hopper delivering these elements singly in the path of a plunger and subjecting the elements to the action of a plunger for placement in the channels of the comb-like carrier.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved machine for setting the fasteners on the strip.

Figure 2 is an end view of the same.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 4 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, showing the means for feeding the fasteners to the strip inthe comb carrier, the plunger being shown in feeding position.

Figure 4a is a broken elevation of the lower end of the feeding plunger.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, with the plunger shown in withdrawn or inoperative position.

Figure 5a is a, section on the line Sia- 5a of Fig. 5.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional View showing the means for alternately operating the fastener feeding means andthe feeding means for the comb carrier.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 8 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, showing the cooperation of the pawls with the ratchets.

Figure 9 is a broken transverse sectional view through the machine, showing particularly the means for supporting the comb carrier, the comb carrier being shown in operative position.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 11 is an enlarged broken sectional view through the comb carrier and retainer, the latter being shown in position to hold a set fastener in place on the strip.

Figure 12 is a horizontal sectional view showing the means for positioning the comb carrier on the slide and the means for feeding the slide.

Figure 13 is a sectional detail showing the means for insuring quick separation of the clutch faces in the unclutching operation.

Figure 14 is a sectional detail, partly in elevation, showing the means for controlling th power application to the machine.

Figure 15 is a broken view in elevation, partly in section, showing the means for interrupting the travel of an improperly placed fastener through the chute and also the means for manually removing such improperly placed fastener.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of the fastener.

Figure 17 is a view in section, partly in elevation, showing the means for operating the feeding plunger in one direction.

Figure 18 is a View o'f a modification.

The machine comprises an appropriately supported bed or base plate I, 'longitudinally of which is appropriately guided a supporting slide 2, guiding and supporting rolls 3 mounted in the bed and cooperating with theslide insuring accurate and easy movement of the slide. Supported above the bed is a distributor 4 into which the fasteners, indicated at 5 in Figure 16, are placed to be delivered in bulk and in which they are placed for single delivery to a depending chute 6.

The distributor and the mechanism for selecting and delivering the fasteners to the chute forms no material part of the present invention, and beyond its conventional showing to merely complete the understanding of the invention, no attempt will be made to describe its construction or operation. In this particular, any means by which the fasteners may be delivered properly and singly to the chute is contemplated for use and is to be considered as within the conventional showing of the distributor herein.

The fastener with which the particular invention is concerned includesl jaws 'I, through which the fasteners are secured to the tape, as hereinafter described, a central, relatively narrow neck 8 offset from the plane of the jaws, and spaced hooks 9 substantially in the plane of the jaws, the hooks forming the cooperating interlock between opposing fasteners in the use of the completed units. The chute 6 is designed to receive the fasteners from the distributor, with the jaws in the lowermost position, as more clearly indicated in Figure 4, such chute being for this purpose provided with a plate section Il] on which the hooks ride and overlying strips I I spaced from the plate I0 to more or less snugly receive the hooks. The strips I I are spaced apart to provide a channel I2 through which the relative offset neck 8 of the hooks project when the hooks are properly positioned in the chute. The upper end of the space I2, i. e. the end immediately adjacent the distributor 4, is widened, as indicated at I3 in Figure l5, the juncture of the widened and normal portions of the channel being located a short distance below the distributor and providing shoulders I4. In the normal and proper delivery of the fasteners, the jaws 'I are at the lower end, the neck 8 disposed to slide in the channel, and the hooks 9 at the upper end. If, for any reason, a particular fastener is delivered upside down to the chute, i. e. with the hooks 9 lowermost, the widened portion I3 of the channel permits the travel of the fastener until the shoulders I4 are reached. As the hooks 9 define the widest portion of the fastener, and as this width is in excess of the normal channel I2, the shoulders I4 interrupt the further downward travel of the fastener, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 15, in order to prevent an inverted fastener fr om reaching the delivery mechanism, to be later described.

That portion of the chute including the widened portion I3 of the lchannel is provided with a glass closing section or door I5 normally held closed by a spring I6 and operated to open position by a nger piece I1. by inspection of the delivery of the fasteners to the comb-like carrier, hereinafter referred to, finds that the fasteners are not being delivered, and seeing through the glass door I5 that a fastener has been delivered to the chute in reverse posit-ion and is preventing proper delivery of sub-- sequent fasteners, such operator will merely open the door by use of the finger piece I1 and, using a proper implement, remove the inverted fastener to permit subsequent and proper delivery of the properly positioned fasteners.

The chute 6 depends toward the bed I at a slight inclination to the vertical for' the gravital delivery of the fasteners, the lower end of the chute terminating above the bed, as indicated in Figure 4. A pedestal I8 secured to and rising from the bed I at one side of the slide 3 projects toward the slide and supports a casting involving a lower block I9 whichextends in spaced, parallel relation to the slide and an upright 20 rising from the block I9 and formed on one face with guideways 2l. The block I9 underlying the guideway 2| presents an abrupt limiting surface 22 and beyond this surface the block is reduced in height, as at 23. The block I9 is formed with a well 24 having a Width approximately corresponding to the width of the fastener elements so that the end of the portion of the block I9 of greater height presents a directly vertical, smooth guiding face 25.

The portion 23 of the block is formed with a longitudinally ranging slot in which is slidably mounted a positioning plunger 26. The forward face of this plunger is recessed at 21, with the recess of a width to receive one of the fastener elements. The lower or delivery end of the chute 6 terminates immediately above the upper surface of the forward portion of the plunger 26 so that when the plunger is in the forward or operative position, the upper surface of the forward portion of such plunger serves as a limit to prevent gravital delivery of the next immediate fastener. The height of the forward portion of the plunger corresponds to the similar dimension of the fastener and the plunger is operated in delivery direction through the medium of a springpressed member 28 slidably mounted in a housing 29 secured at the rear of the block portion 23 and engaging a 'projection 30 on the end of the plunger, the spring 3| for operating the element 28 being adjustable, as at 32.

Slidably mounted in the guideways. 2I of the upright 20 is a feeding plunger 33. The lower end 34 of the plunger is designed, when the plunger is operated, to fully feed one of the fasteners, as hereinafter described, to contact and be-limited by the limiting stop face 22 of the block I9. Secured to that face of the plunger 33 remote from the upright 20 is a plate 35. This plate 35 corresponds in thickness to the similar dimension of the fastener elements and moves in the well 24, having an upper inoperative position substantially flush with the upper surface of the forward portion of the plunger 26. l

The plate operates between the chute and the guiding face 25, bearing at lall times against said guiding face and being formed at its lower end with a recess 36 of a size to embrace the hooked end 9 of the fastener element. The bottom of the well 24 immediately below the plunger 26 is provided with a block 31 which terminates When the operator materially short of the operative plane of the plunger plate 35 and is recessed on its upper surface'at 38 to receive and guide an angle plate39 which, under the action of a spring 4B seated in a bore in the block 31, is normally positioned in the path of movement of the plunger plate 35.

As will presently appear, this plate 39 is displaced by the fastener element when forced downwardly by the plunger plate 35, the block when displaced by the element serving as a guide for one surface of the element, the opposite guide of which is the surface 25 of the block I9.. The upper edge of the block 39 may be beveled to insure ready displacement of the block under downward movement of the fastener element.

The plunger 26 is operated in one direction by the spring-pressed element 28 and is moved in the opposite direction through the medium of a cam block 4I resting upon an extension 42 of the plunger 26, the lower portion of the cam block being hollow to utilize the extension as a guide. The cam block is provided with transverse pins 43 operating in a slot 44 of the plunger extension 42 to permit relative movement of the cam block for adjusting purposes under the influence of a threaded stud 45 having cooperation with i a threaded bore 46 in the cam block and provided with an operating head 41 and with a disk 48 seating in a slot 49 in the plunger extension 42.

The cam block 4I has its forward face inclined, forming the cam surface 50, and obviously this cam face may be adjusted longitudinally of the plunger to different positions, it being noted that in any adjusted' position the cam block is in effect a rigid part of the plunger 26. The cam block is operated at the appropriate moment by a cam bar 5I carried by arms 52 secured to the feeding plunger 33, the lower edge cf the cam bar 5I presenting the inclined cam surface'53 which, as the plunger 33 moves downwardly, engages the cam surface50 of the cam block and so displaces the plunger rearwardly or in a direction away from the guiding facev25 of the block I9.

As will later appear in the operation, the plunger 26 serves to present a fastener element in the path of movement of the plunger plate 35, and this positioned fastener element is forced downwardly into a comb carrier, to be later described. During this operation, the next succeeding fastener element is advanced by gravity into a position forwardly of the plunger 26, ready to be advanced into feeding position when the plunger 33 is withdrawn. The upward movement of the plunger plate 35 in the absence of other provision might tend to displace or wipe over this positioned fastener element and displace it so that the succeeding operation of the plunger 26 would not accurately place such element beneath the plunger plate 35.

To avoid this, there is secured to the guide face 25 of the block I9 a thin plate 54 which extends down over the face of the plunger 26 and is recessed at 55 in line with that plunger, with the recess of a size to readily receive one of the fastener elements. Therefore, a fastener element which has gravitated in advance of the plunger 26 ready to be fed into the path of movement of the plunger plate 35 is positioned in the recess 55 of the plate 54 and the upper wall of this recess prevents any upward displacement of the so positioned fastener element during the upward movement of the plunger plate 35.

Of course, it Will be apparent that as the feeding plunger 33 descends, the cam bar 5I cooperating with the cam block 4I moves the plunger 26 rearwardly against the pressure of the element 28 to thus withdraw the plunger from the path of movement of the lower end of the plunger plate 35 and afford a space for the gravitation in advance of the plunger 26 of the next succeeding fastener element as the feeding plunger 33 moves upwardly. The influence on the cam block 4| is released and the pressure element 28 acts to move the plunger 26 forwardly, exerting pressure against the then positioned fastener element so that as the lower end of the plunger plate 35 rises above the upper surface of the forward portion of the plunger 26, the positioned fastener element is moved beneath the plunger plate. During this upward movement of the plunger plate 35, it is, of course, moving across the face of the then positioned fastener element, but this fastener element cannot be displaced through any friction between it and the plate 35 by reason of the limiting plate 54, as previously described.

The slide 2 is formed for an appropriate portion of its length into an upstanding wall 56 and also with a similar spaced, parallel wall 51 of materially less height than the wall 56. These walls provide a guideway for receiving the comb carrier 58 and hold this carrier rigidly in upright position for the operative steps of the mechanism. The upper edge of the carrier comb is peculiarly formed, as will later appear, and it is, therefore, a vital necessity that the proper end of such carrier comb be initially introduced in the guideway formed by the walls 56 and 51.

To insure this result, the relatively inner surfaces of the Walls 56 and 51 are channeled, at 59, these channels at the entrant end of the comb carrier receiving guide being widened relative to such guideway, as at 60. The comb carrier is provided with pins 6| and 62 near the respective ends, the former having a length corresponding to the narrower portion of the channels of the guideway, while the latter has a length corresponding to the wider portion of the channels. Obviously, unless the comb carrier is introduced into the channel with the end carrying the shortest pin in advance, such carrier could not be introduced at all except for a short distance, as the longer pin could not enter the narrower portion of the channel. Therefore, the carrier comb must be introduced, if at all, in proper relation for the desired operation.

The walls 56 and 51 at the end remote from the entrant end for the comb carrier are bridged by a stop 63 forming a limit for the operative position of the comb carrier. The opposite end of such comb carrier is engaged by a projecting portion 64 of a pin 65 extending upwardly through an opening 66 in the slide and carried by a spring strip-61 secured at one end 68 in a recessed portion of the slide and provided at the opposite end with a nger button 69 which extends through an opening in the slide and above the upper surface thereof in a normal position.

Obviously, on introducing the comb carrier, the finger button 69 is depressed, moving the stop 64 below the upper surface of the slide, and after the introduction of the comb carrier to the limit permitted by the stop 63, pressure on the finger piece may be withdrawn or, if previously withdrawn, the stop 64 will move into a position at the rear end of the comb carrier to hold said comb carrier between the stop 63 and the movable stop 64, as clearly indicated in Figure 10.

The comb carrier 58 is made up of two plates 10 and 1I, with the lower portions of the relatively inner faces in contact when the comb carrier is assembled. The upper portion of each plate is reduced in thickness to provide a central channel 12 to receive and securely hold the tape or strip 13 to which the fasteners are to be applied.

The upper end of the carrier comb considered as a whole, i. e. with the blocks 10 and 1I fitted together, is formed with a series of transverse slots 14 which are spaced apart longitudinally of the carrier comb the distance required for the spacing of the fastener elements on the strip yor tape. The tape-receiving channel 12 formed in the carrier comb considered as a whole extends upwardly through the slotted portion of the carrier comb, being within the range of this portion somewhat widened, as at 15, to receive and house the bead or enlargement 16 ordinarily provided on one edge of the tape 13 and which bead or edge is to be engaged by the jaws 1 of the fasteningv element, as clearly shown in Figure 11. The extreme upper edges of the walls defining the transverse slot 14 in the carrier comb as a whole are recessed at 11 at each side of the enlargement 15 of the channel 12, these recessed portions providing a space for the reception of the hooks 9 of the fastener element when the latter is positioned in the comb carrier.

After the comb carrier has been properly positioned between the walls 5.6 and 51 on the slide 2, with the strip 13 in proper place therein, this comb carrier is advanced in a step by step movement directly beneath the lower end of the plunger plate 35 so that a particular fastener element moved by such plunger plate will be moved into the immediately underlying slot 14 of the carrier comb and to a position to cause the jaws 1 of such fastener element to rest on opposite sides of the bead or enlargement 16 of the tape or stip 13. 'Ihe fastener element is thus positioned transversely of the carrier comb, and as the neck 8 of the fastener element is in a plane offset from the plane of the jaws 1, this neck portion will project beyond one surface of the slot 14 in which it is placed, extending in this position into the enlargement 15, while the hooks 9 of the fastener element will rest in the recessed portions 11 of the Walls defining the slots 14.

Thus, with the fastener element in a slot 14 of the comb carrier, the element is practically held against movement in any direction by the cooper-- ation of parts of the fastener element with the appropriately formed portions ofthe comb carrier. Of course, the comb carrier moves in slightly spaced relation to the lower surface of the block I9, or more particularly the portion 23 of such block, as clearly shown in Figure 4, and thus upward displacement of the fastener elements is prevented, and when it is desired to remove the charged comb carrier from the machine for subsequent clamping of the jaws 1 onto the enlargement or bead 16 of the tape 13, additional means, hereinafter referred to, are provided for preventing any possible upward movement of the fasteners.

The fasteners are to be introduced successively into the transverse slots of the comb carrier, and as the comb carrier must be at rest during the introduction of a fastener, it is apparent that means must be provided for feeding the comb carrier intermittently in a step by step movement with the means designed to operate the carrier for a distance corresponding to the distance between the slots 14 during the time the plunger 33 is moving upwardly or inoperatively, and that while the plunger 33 is moving downwardly the comb carrier must be held at rest.

In order to provide for the movement of the slide and thereby the relatively xed comb carrier, the wall 56 is provided at one end with a lateral, hollow extension 18. A Worm shaft 19 projects through the extension, being supported in end bearings 89 secured to the bed I and extending parallel with the slide 2. The hollow bore of the extension 18 is cylindrical, and slidable therein is a cylindrical block 8|, to which, through the medium of a screw bolt 82, is secured a half worm nut 83 for cooperation with the worm 19. 'I'he block 8| has an axial recess 84 through which the screw bolt is operative, and the wall of this recess adjacent the end of the block remote from the nut 83 is formed with an annular channel 85 to receive a disk 86 on the end of a rod 81 having threaded cooperation with an end section 88 of the latter extension 18, the threaded rod having an operating handle 89 beyond the extension. By adjustment of the handle, the half nut 83 may be brought into cooperation with the worm 19 and the slide and thereby the comb carrier moved during operation of the worm.

The feeding plunger 33 is reciprocated through the medium of a lever 90 provided at one end with a lateral spindle 9| rotatably mounted in a support 92 carried by an arm 93 extending from the upright 20. The lever arm is formed intermediate its length with a slot 94 through which passes a pin 95 extending through the spaced sections, with the upper bifurcated end of the feeding plunger 33, so that the plunger will follow the movements of the lever arm. 'Ihe spindle 9| isprovided remote from the bearing 92 with a depending operating arm 96 which, under the inuence of a cam to be later described, will rock the lever in position to elevate the feeding plunger 33. The end of the lever 90 remote from the spindle 9| is connected to the upper end of a rod 91 depending in a cylindrical, hollow standard 98 secured to and rising from the bed plate I, within which standard the rod 91 is provided with a guiding head 99, between which and the cap plate of the standard is arranged a coil spring |0|. Obviously, as the lever arm 90 is operated under the influence of the cam actuated arm 96 to raise the feeding plunger, the spring |01 is tensioned so that as the pressure of the cam is released, the spring-connected end of the lever arm is moved downwardly, with a corresponding movement of the feeding plunger 33.

The driving mechanisms for the various parts include a suitably driven power shaft |02 operated as by a belt wheel |03. The opposite end of the shaft carries a crank wheel |04 having an extended hub |05 freely rotatable on the power shaft. A sliding clutch member |06 is keyed on the hub |05 and arranged for cooperation with a clutch member |01 xed on the power shaft |02. The movable clutch member |06 is formed with an annular channel |08 to receive the yoke |09 of a lever ||0 pivotally supported on the bed at with the free end of the lever terminating in the path of movement of a slide-carried element later referred to, with such free end of the lever provided with an adjustable contact element ||2.

Thus, whenever a hereinafter described stop on the slide reaches a predetermined position, it will operate the lever ||0 through the stop ||2, disconnecting the clutch members |06 and |01 to interrupt further movement of the crank wheel |04. The crank wheel |04 carries a crank I3. A

these ratchet wheels are designed to be intermittently and oppositely driven through a pawl mechanism, shown more particularly in Figure 8, wherein a housing is mounted for free swinging movement on shaft ||4 by a strut |2| rotatably supported on the shaft. 'I'he housing |20 contains two pawls |22 and |23 arranged to cooperate With the respective ratchets ||8 and ||9. As the ratchets are reversed, the operative faces of the pawls are, of course, similarly reversed and each pawl has a collar |24 between which and the top of the housing is arranged a coil spring |25 to normally maintain the pawl in cooperation with the teeth of the ratchet in movement of the pawl in one direction, while permitting relatively free vertical movementof the pawl without affecting the ratchet in movement in the opposite direction., The housing 28 is connected at |26 with the crank arm ||3.

Thus, in the operation of the power shaft, the respective gears H6 and ||1 are intermittently rotated a predetermined distance in opposite directions, as the movement ofthe housing |20 in one direction will operate one ratchet and the corresponding gear and in movement in the opposite direction will operate the other ratchet and its connected gear. Supported on an extension from the frame 20 is a shaft |21, one end of which is provided with a pinion |28 meshing with gear ||1. On this shaft |21 is arranged a cam |29 adapted, in the rotation of the shaft, to engage the arm 96 to operate the lever 90 for the actuation of the feeding plunger, as previously described. Obviously, this cam is intermittently rotated as its driving element, gear ||1, is intermittently driven by the pawl mechanism previously described.

'Ihe feed screw 19 for the slide with the comb carrier is terminally provided with a pinion |30 designed to mesh with the gear H6. Thus, the feed screw 19 and, therefore, the slide and the comb carrier, is moved intermittently in accordance with the intermittent movement of its driving element, the gear ||6, and as the gears ||6 and ||1 are alternately operated, it is apparent that the feeding plunger is operated while the feed screw and thus the slide and comb carrier are at rest, and that while the feeding plunger is withdrawn and held in inoperative position by the cam, the feed screw is operated to advance the comb carrier a distance equal to the predetermined distance between the fastener-receiving channels in said comb carrier. Thus. at each movement of the feed screw. a fresh and succeeding channel is placed in position to receive a fastener element in the immediately succeeding operation of the feed plunger. The lever ||0 is provided with a handle element |3| by which the clutch member |06 may be operated at will when necessary to start the machine. though the automatic cooperation of a stop on the slide 2 with the adjustable stop 0 will automatically stop the machine at a predetermined point in its operation.

The slide 2, or more particularly the Wall 56 thereof, is provided with a stop in the form of a block |32 adjustable longitudinally of the wall through set screws |33. This block presents an abrupt end, -in the path of movement of which is arranged the adjustable stop ||2 on the lever I I 0. Thus, by adjustment of the stop |32, the operation of the machine may be interrupted after feeding any predetermined number of fastener members. A scale |34 on the wall above the stopA |32 permits adjustment of the stop in proper position with respect to any fastener-receiving channel and in accordance with the predetermined number of. fastener-receiving channels to be filled. The wall 56 carries a pointer |35 which may cooperate with an appropriate scale |36 adjacently disposed on the bed plate to indicate the number of fastener elements which have been fed to the comb carrier at any point in the operation of the machine.

As the automatic movement of lthe clutching lever to open the clutch is, of course, a comparatively slow one, the separation of the clutch teeth when just approaching a clearance point would tend to chatter, with possible injury, and to overcome this, means are provided for automatically'opening the clutch at this point in a rapid manner independently of the slide-carried stop |32. This means is shown more particularly in Figure 13, and involves a depending projection |31 on the lever l0, with the projection of conical form. A spring-pressed plunger. |38 is supported in a housing |39 on the bed plate I and held at its upper limit of movement by a spring |40, the upper end of the plunger being conical.

The arrangement of the parts is such that when the lever I0 under the automatic operation reaches a point where the teeth of the respective clutch members are approaching the clearance point, the apex of the projection |31 rides over the apex of the plunger |38, the latter having been depressed during movement of the lever up to this point. As the point of the projection rides over the point of the plunger, spring |40 exerts upward pressure on the plunger and so moves the lever suddenly and quickly to a point to compel complete separation of. the teeth of the respective clutch members. Thus chattering or injury is prevented.

As previously stated, the fasteners are placed upon the strip in the channels of the comb carrier and, while held more or less in effective cooperation with the strip by the formation of the channels in the comb carrier, are nevertheless subject to disarrangement or vpossible displacement if means were not provided to hold them accurately in place. `This means is illustrated more particularly in Figures 11 and 12, and comprises a retaining bar 4| swingingly and movably connected to the ends of the comb carrier through the medium of hollow-sleeve-like members |42 pivotally connected on the comb carrier, within which depend rods |43 secured to the retaining strip |4|. The lower ends of the rods are enlarged at |44, and springs |45 bear between the enlargement and the otherwise closed end of the member |42. Thus, the retaining strip may be moved away from its pivotal connection with the comb carrier for placement and yet normally held in operative relation when released.

The retainer strip |4| is formed on its lower edge with a channel |46 overlying and fitting the hook end of the fastener 5, the retaining channel having downwardly projecting inturned ns |41 which snugly fit over the appropriate portion of the fastener. The retaining strip seats in the depression 11 of the comb, and obviously whenin operative position is held by the spring |45 to accurately retain the fasteners on the enlarged end 16 of the tape 13. The springs |45 permit movement of. the retaining strip in a direction away from the comb carrier in order to permit said strip to be moved to operative or inoperative position.

It is to be understood that the mechanism just described involves the means for setting fasteners of particular type on a tape in proper position in a comb carrier so that when a particular operation of this machine is completed, a particular or selected length of tape will have its beaded or thickened edge provided with a selected or desired number of fasteners, with such fasteners retained by the comb carrier in their set position by the retaining strip. Obviously, the comb carrier with the strip and set fasteners may be readily removed as a unit from the machine described by withdrawing the stop 64 through proper operation of the button 69, as will be plain from Figure of the drawings.

The setting machine is completely automatic in its action, operating after setting the machine for the desired number of fasteners to be applied and the application of the strip to the comb carrier to feed the fasteners into the comb carrier on the strip in succession until the power mechanism is automatically tripped through operation of the lever I0, as described.

The means for operating the feeding plunger 33 may involve the use of a single cam and thus dispense with the mechanism shown in Figure 1'1. To this end as shown more particularly in Figure 18, the feeding plunger is connected to a link |68 supported upon a fixed pivot |69 carried by the frame. A lever |10 swinging on the pivot |69 has a pin |1| to underlie the link, the free end of the lever and link being connected by a spring |12. The lever is provided with a pin |13 traveling in an endless cam track |14 in a cam corresponding to cam |29. The cam track is so formed as to reciprocate the feeding plunger.

We claim:-

1. A machine for feeding fasteners to and positioning them relative to a strip including a comb carrier formed to removably receive the strip andformed with channels to individually receive the fasteners to position the fasteners in predetermined relation to the strip, means for v feeding the comb carrier intermittently, a chute for delivering the fasteners singly into a position above the comb carrier, a feeding plunger operating to engage the lowermost fastener and move the same into the channels of the comb carrier in predetermined relation to the strip, mechanism for moving the comb carrier, mechanism for operating the feeding plunger, and means for compelling successive intermittent operations of said mechanisms.

2. A machine for setting fasteners on and relative to a strip, a combcarrier supporting the strip and receiving the fasteners in spaced longitudinal order relative to the strip, a chute for feeding the fasteners singly to a position above the comb carrier, a vertically operating plunger serving to move a selected fastener into the comb carrier in predetermined relation to the strip, and means for positioning the lowermost fastener from the chute in the path of movement of the feeding plunger.

3. A machine for setting fasteners on and relative to a strip, a comb carrier supporting the strip and receiving the fasteners in spaced longitudinal order relative to the strip, a chute for feeding the fasteners singly to a position above the comb carrier, a vertically operating plunger serving to move a selected fastener into the comb carrier in predetermined relation to the strip, and means for positioning the lowermost fastener from the chute in the path of movement of the feeding plunger, said latter means cutting off fastener delivery from the chute.

4. A machine for setting fasteners on and relative to a strip,- a comb carrier supporting the strip and receiving the fasteners in spaced longitudinal order relative to the strip, a chute for feeding the fasteners singly to a position above the comb carrier, a vertically operating plunger serving to move a selected fastener into the comb carrier in predetermined relation to the strip, means for positioning the lowermost fastener from the chute in the path of movement of the feeding plunger, and a member arranged adjacent the chute and serving to prevent the feeding plunger interfering with the lowermost fastener in delivery during upward or inoperative movement of the plunger.

5. In a machine for setting fasteners on and relative to a strip. a comb carrier receiving the strip and formed to receive and support the fasteners in predetermined relation to the strip. intermittent feeding means for the carrier, a chute for the single delivery of fasteners, a positioning plunger for moving the lowermost fastener into a predetermined position, a feeding plunger operating on said positioned fastener to force the same into the comb carrier, a mechanism for intermittently operating the plunger during the periods of rest of the carrier, said mechanism including a power shaft, means intermediate the power shaft and the mechanism for intermittently advancing the comb carrier, and means intermediate the power shaft and plunger for intermittently raising and lowering the plunger.

6. In a machine for setting fasteners on and relative to a strip, a comb carrier receiving the strip and formed to receive and support the fasteners in predetermined relation to the strip, intermittent feeding means for the carrier, a chute for the single delivery of fasteners, a positioning plunger for moving the lowermost fastener into a predetermined position. a feeding plunger operating on said positioned fastener to force the same into the comb carrier, a mechanism for intermittently operating the plunger during the periods of rest of the carrier, said mechanism including a power shaft, means intermediate the power shaft and the mechanism for intermittently advancing the comb carrier, means intermediate the power shaft and plunger for intermittently raising and lowering the plunger, and means carried by the comb carrier for interrupting the power drive to said mechanisms in a predetermined position of the comb carrier.

7. In a machine for setting fasteners on and relative to a strip, a comb carrier receiving the strip and formed to receive and support the fasteners in predetermined relation to the strip, intermittent feeding means for the carrier, a chute for the single delivery of fasteners, a positioning plunger for moving the lowermost fastener into a predetermined position, a feeding plunger operating on said positioned fastener to force the same into the comb carrier, -a mechanism for intermittently operating tle plunger during the periods of rest of the carrier, said mechanism including a power shaft, means intermediate the power shaft and the mechanism for intermittently advancing the comb carrier, means intermediate the power shaft and plunger for intermittently raising and lowering the plunger, and adjustable means carried by the comb carrier for interrupting the power drive to said mechanisms in a predetermined position of the comb carrier.

8. A machine for setting fasteners on and relative to the edge of a fabric strip, including a comb carrier receiving the strip and fasteners, feeding means for delivering the fasteners tothe comb carrier in succession, a feed screw for advancing the comb carrier, a cam for controlling the movement of the feeding means, a gear controlling the operation of the feed screw, a gear controlling the operation of the cam, oppositely disposed ratchets carried by the respective gears, pawls cooperating with the ratchets to move the same and thereby operate the gears, a member mounted for swinging movement and carrying the pawls, whereby one of the gears is operated in the swinging movement of the member, and a power shaft for operating the member.

9. A machine for setting fasteners on and relative.to the edge of a fabric strip, including a comb carrier receiving the strip and fasteners, feeding means for delivering the fasteners to the comb carrier in succession, a feed screw for advancing the comb carrier, a cam for controlling the movement of the feeding means, a gear controlling the operation of the feed screw, a gear controlling the operation of the cam, oppositely disposed ratchets carried by the respective gears, pawls cooperating with the ratchets to move the same and thereby operate the gears, a member mounted for swinging movement and carrying the pawls whereby one of the gears is operated in the swinging movement of the member, a power shaft for operating the member, a clutch controlling connection between the power shaft and member, a lever for shifting the clutch, and means on the comb carrier for engaging the lever to shift the clutch and thereby interrupt the connection of the power shaft and member in a predetermined position of the comb carrier.

10. In a machine for setting fasteners on and relative to the edge of a strip, a base, a slide movable on the base, spaced walls extending upwardly from the slide, a comb carrier to be inserted and held between said walls, said comb carrier being formed to receive the strip and further formed with fastener-receiving channe`s shaped to permit the fasteners to be positioned in predetermined relation to the edge of the strip, and cooperating means on the comb carrier and walls of the slide to prevent the comb carrier being introduced between said walls in other than a particular position.

11. In a machine for setting fasteners on and relative to the edge of a strip, a base, a slide movable on the b ase, spaced walls extending upwardly from the slide, a comb carrier to be inserted and held betweensaid walls, said comb carrier being formed to {receive the strip and further formed with fastener-receiving channe`s shaped to permit the fasteners to be positioned in predetermined relationtofthe y.edge of the'strip,

12. In a machine for setting fastenerson and" Cil mounted for predetermined intermittent movement, said carrier being formed to receive and hold the strip and further formed to receive and support the fasteners in predetermined relation to the strip, feeding means for directing the fasteners into the comb carrier in proper relation to the strip, said feeding means including a plunger, a cam for raising the plunger and depressing the plunger for feeding purposes.

1K3. A comb carrier for use in connection with machines for setting fasteners on and relative to a strip, said comb carrier comprising independent sections formed on their meeting surfaces to provide a receiving channel for the strip, the upper edges of the sections being formed with transverse channels shaped to receive the fasteners, the transverse channels having an uninterrupted longitudinal opening extending through the Walls of the channels and serving to permit a portion of the fastener when placed in the transverse channel to rest between the walls for holding the fastener upright.

14. A comb carrier for use in connection with machines for setting fasteners on and relative to a strip, said comb carrier comprising independent sections formed on their meeting surfaces to provide a receiving channel for the strip, the upper edges of the sections being formed with transverse channels shaped to receive the fasteners, the transverse channels having an uninterrupted lorgitudinal opening extending through the Walls of the channels and serving to permit a portion of the fastener when placed in the transverse channel to rest between the walls for holding the fastener upright, and a member swingingly and adjustably connected to the comb carrier and movable into a. position to overlie and engage the complete fasteners in the channels of the comb carrier to prevent movement of said fasteners.

15. A comb carrier for use in connection with machines for setting fasteners on and relative to a strip, said comb carrier comprising independent sections formed on their meeting surfaces to provide a receiving channel for the strip, the upper edges of the sections being formed with transverse channels shaped to receive the fasteners, the transverse channels having an uninterrupted longitudinal opening extending through the walls of the channels and serving to permit a portion of the fastener when placed in the transverse channel to rest between the walls for holding the fastener upright, the upper edges of the wals of the channels being recessed to receive the hooks of the fastener.

16. In a machine for setting fasteners on and relative to a strip, a fastener feeding means delivering the fasteners singly, and strip carrying means formed with channels to receive and position a fastener relative to the strip, said strip carrying means and fastener feeding means belng mounted .for relative step by step movement for successivedelivery of the fasteners from the leerling meansto the channels of. the strip car. .fylnsmean-s.' seid fastener'leedins means in-` 's pressure @versies element telf, directly seais `e srlddellverilie the fasteners "1 las machine fersettlne .fasteners @e and astrip; s strip carrying means formed titl heenelste receive endsuptert 'fasteners in cooperative, relation 1.50 `the strip/and means ler lerelhsthe ,fasteners slnsly and delivering ythem .le succession teh the channels. said. strip carrying .means moving` progressivelyto succes,

' mittently in va. predeter sively dispose the channels thereof into cooperative relation with the fastener feeding means. 4

18. In a machine for setting fasteners on and relative to a strip, a strip carrying means formed with channels to receive the fasteners and support them in position relative to the strip, a fastener forcing means for delivering the fasteners singly, and means for intermittently feeding the strip carrying means into cooperative relation with the fastener feeding means to permit delivery of the fasteners from the feeding means into the channels of the strip carrying means in succession. s

19. In a. machine for setting fasteners on and relative to a strip, a strip carrier mounted for intermittent movement in a predetermined path, said carrier being formed with channels to receive the fasteners and maintain them in cooperative relation with the strip, and means operating transverse the path of movement of the u strip carrier to deliver fasteners under pressure singly to the channels of the strip carrier during periods of rest of the carrier.

20. In a machine for setting fasteners on and relative to a strip, the combination with means for feeding the fasteners under pressure singly into a predetermined position, of an element movable across said position, said element being formed to removably grip a strip and further formed with channels to singly receive the fasteners from the feeding means as said channels reach said predetermined position, the channels in the element supporting the received fasteners in cooperative relation with the strip carried by the element.

21. In a machine for setting fasteners on and relative to a strip, feeding means for delivering the fasteners under pressure singly to a. predetermined position, a member movable through a.

step by step movement to receive the fasteners delivered to such position, saidtmember being formed to removably clamp a strip and further formed with a series of fastener receiving channels into which in succession the fasteners delivered by the feeding means are received, said channels permitting each fastener delivered thereto to assume an operative relation to the strip carried by the member.

22. In a. machine for setting fasteners on and relative to a strip, a comb carrier formed to receive the strip apd further formed with fastener receiving channels and a feeding plunger for feeding the fasteners singly into the successive channels of the comb carrier, and means for intermittently feeding the comb carrier to successively align the channels therein with the re-. spective fasteners as such are delivered by the plunger.

23. In a machine for setting fasteners on and relative to a strip, a comb carrier formed with a series of fastener receiving channels and fur-- ther formed with a channel, to receive and ernbraee a strip inl predetermined relatlen tel seid channels. ineens. fori mov'ng the.v carrier inter# f, f 4. 'ned plassend means for deliveringA a fastener under 'pressure tdth c'zarriezf'lutins-eeiehA il riod et rest. the periods el rest 0f the carrier 211.1v tbeilr'eof'wltb `th V,fastener being `deliveled- 2%; ln a mae ,nepfe setting fasteners en and.' reletivete estrias comb carrler'formeq tores f* eivefalld SllDllOrt. e' StIlaFSed. .carrier belagg'nlnls one of the 'channels formed above. the stripwith' a. series of fastener receiving channelsmea'ch formed lto receive and 'support a'fastene'r in proper-:relationfto the' strip, the channels being spaced apart in accordance with the desired spacing of the fasteners when finally secured to the strip, means for moving the comb carrier intermittently throughout a predetermined path, and means for feeding a fastener under pressure to each of the channels of the comb carrier in succession during the periods of rest of said carrier.

25. In a machine for setting fasteners on and relative to a strip, a comb carrier formed to receive and support a strip, said carrier being formed above the strip with a series of fastener receiving channels, each forned to receive and support a, fastener in proper relation to the strip, the channels being spaced apart in accordance with the desired spacing of the fasteners when finally secured tothe strip, means for moving the comb carrier intermittently throughout a predetermined path, and means for feeding a fastener to each of the channels of the comb carrier in succession during the periods of`rest of said carrier, the fastener feeding means being inoperative during periods of movement of the comb carrier.

26. In a machine for setting fasteners on and relative to a strip, an intermittently moving strip carrying means formed to receive and properly segregate the fasteners relative to the strip, and means for feeding the fasteners under pressure to the strip carrying means in succession during periods of rest of the strip carrying means.

27. In a machine for setting fasteners on and relative to a strip, an element removably supporting the strip and formed to receive and dispose fasteners relative to the strip, means for feeding the fasteners imder pressure singly to the element, and means for feeding the element relative to the fastener feeding means.

28. In a machine for setting fasteners on and relative to a strip, an element removably supporting the strip and formed to receive and dispose fasteners relative to the strip, means for feeding the fasteners under pressure singly to the element, and means for feeding the element relative'to the fastener feeding means, said latter feeding means being interrupted during the period at which the fastener feeding means delivers a fastener to the element.

ERWIN BERNSTIEL. JOH. WILLY SCHALLER. 

